Plymouth North’s Bryan Ryder signs letter of intent to run track at Lynn University

Tuesday

Apr 17, 2018 at 6:00 AM

Winter and spring training is about to become very different for Plymouth North senior Bryan Ryder after signing his letter of intent Thursday to run track and field at Lynn University starting in the fall.

David Wolcott dwolcott@wickedlocal.com @DavidWolcott1

PLYMOUTH – Winter and spring training are about to become very different for Plymouth North senior Bryan Ryder after signing his letter of intent Thursday to run track and field at Lynn University starting in the fall.

"There was a connection to the college with (Plymouth North Class of 2017 graduate) Kate Fisher running down there," Ryder said. "She mentioned my name to the coaches and we made a really good connection during the recruiting process. I went down there for an official visit in December and I liked the campus as well as the running program that they are starting to build.

"I’m looking forward to challenging myself with some new surroundings."

Lynn University is an NCAA Division II college located in Boca Raton, Florida, so Ryder will have to give up competing during the winter track season. He’ll specialize in the distance races during the school’s cross country and spring track seasons.

Ryder started as a soccer player but switched over to the cross country program for his junior and seniors years with the Blue Eagles.

"That was a tough decision because I really loved my soccer coaches and teammates, but when I looked at the situation I knew I enjoyed distance running from when I started in middle school and I thought it might help me get noticed by a college if I dedicated myself totally to the sport," Ryder explained.

Ryder teamed with fellow senior Nick McNamee to finish 1-2 at every Patriot League dual meet last fall as the Eagles raced to the Patriot League cross country championship. His time of 16:00 on a 5K course was one of the fastest times in the history of the Plymouth North program.

Ryder is the school record holder in the indoor track 1,000-meter race with a top time of 2:23. He also is part of both the 4x800-meter indoor and outdoor relay school record times. For the last six running seasons was a state qualifier in the 1,000, one-mile, two-mile and the 4x800 relay events.

Winter track assistant coach Chris Bruno said Ryder is a "fantastic model of a coachable athlete you’d want in the program." He praised Ryder for his willingness to do both the mile as well as the two-mile events to help the team during the winter season.

Track and Field Head Coach Cliff Buckley called Ryder "a leader in what he says and what he does and a great example for the rest of the team about what hard work and dedication will get you if you stick with it."

Ryder was a captain of winter track team and has been a Patriot League All-Star six times. Besides all his running accolades the National Honor Society student is also president of the senior class and a member of the PNN television staff. He will major in journalism at Lynn University.

"Working with PNN has been great," Ryder said. "We learn a little bit of everything in the class, both behind the scenes and in front of the camera."

Email the reporter at dwolcott@wickedlocal.com and follow him on Twitter, @David Wolcott1.